Page 79 of Dancing with the Devil
“If you know, there’s a big risk of you backing out,” he said, then slowly turned his head to meet my nervous gaze. “We can’t have that now, can we?”
His question was rhetorical, so I swallowed hard and looked back down at the ring.
Mr. Fuentes dropped his silk coat and tossed it out towards the audience—revealing a very muscular upper body with a huge snake tattooed on his entire back. A woman caught it, and he winked at her.
“Well, Mr. Fuentes,” the ring announcer started. “It’s your lucky day,” he grinned, then covered the mic to whisper.
Mr. Fuentes said something back to the the ring announcer but he completely brushed him off and turned his body to where everyone else was looking.
Antonio walked in with Samantha and the crowd got back on their feet, screaming with applause. I heard my heart thudding in my ears.
His bare chest had me crossing my legs slowly. So many tattoos. He had tattoos scattered on his chest as well as on his waist. His right arm was covered in tattoos from his hand up to his shoulder. His left arm had a vine sprawling up from his wrist to his shoulder.Wow. So that’s what he’s been hiding under that suit of his.
He spoke to Samantha while tightening the tape around his hands. They got to the ring and she tapped his shoulder as they shared silent communication with their eyes. He got into the ring and shook the hand of the other fighter. A firm grip. The men let go and both turned to face the rest of us.
Eventually, the men were sent off to opposite corners and Samantha whispered something to Antonio making him grin. He said something and she chuckled, throwing her head back. The railing squeaked under my grip as I twisted my hands around it.If he doesn’t die in this ring tonight, he will as soon as I get my hands on him.
The two men took their positions in the ring and the ring announcer stepped out. “He can fight right?” I nervously asked Cesar who grinned in response.
“You’ll see.”
Punches flew. Bones cracked. Blood scattered. Bruises formed. Loud gasps, cheers and murmurs. It all ended with a huge thud.
The ring announcer grabbed Antonio’s hand, lifting it into the air and the crowd completely lost it. My hand flew up to my heart as I stared down at him with wide eyes. He pulledhis mouth guard out and blood seeped down the corner of his mouth. Small droplets of blood dripped down the side of his face. His opponent’s blood was scattered all over his chest. His fists were bloody and bruised.
“Oh—My—God,” I breathed and my hands flew up to my mouth. Samantha hopped into the ring and pulled his arm over her shoulder as she helped him out.
He smiled over at her and she nodded approvingly. “Take me to him,” I demanded. I didn’t even care to see if his opponent was alive as he laid extremely still.
I followed Cesar and he led me deeper into the building. We finally got to the ground floor and he opened one of the doors. My jaw dropped as I saw Antonio sitting down on a chair while talking to Samantha and another man.
“I never really doubted you,” she nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and he smiled.
“You didn’t even root for your lover?” he asked, undoing the tape on his hands and she playfully rolled her eyes. “Ouch,” he teased and I could kick him right now.
“Oh, look at that,” she dramatically said as she looked up at me. “Suddenly Vincent and I need a drink.”
She grabbedVincent’sarm and dragged him out with her.
Antonio turned his head and looked over at me clutching onto Cesar’s poor arm. I marched over to him with anger. “What the fuck?” I snapped. “You don’t just leave me and show up in a fucking boxing ring,” I scoffed in disbelief. “Are youtryingto kill me?” He stood up but I pushed him back down. “I’m not finished,” I seethed and he grinned, turning his head away from me. “Cesar,” I stated, snapping my head toward him. “Please, let me strangle him in private.”
“Please don’t, Miss Nirah,” he sighed.
“Too late,” I said, slowly moving my hands to Antonio’s throat but he grabbed my wrists, pulling me down onto his lap sothat I straddled him. “I promised Cesar I’d strangle you until you begged me to stop so let me.”
I tugged my wrists from him but I had no luck whatsoever. The door closed—after Cesar left—and he firmly held my wrists still. “Are you done now?” he asked and I took a deep breath in before exhaling.
“Yes,” I calmly said and he slowly let go of my wrists.Smack. “That’s for leaving me for two days,” I said and he looked at me in disbelief. I cupped his face with both hands, crashing my lips against his and his hands rode up my thighs, gripping them. I slowly pulled away, catching my breath. “That’s for winning,” I explained.Smack“That’s for getting hurt,” I sternly said, giving him a quick peck and he frowned. “And that’s for slapping you twice.”
With a sharp exhale I tried to get off his lap but he held me in place. “Did you just hit me?” he asked and I smiled.
“Oh no,” I sighed, pressing the back of my four fingers against his forehead. “You’re losing your memory, aren’t you? Too many hits to the head?” I asked cupping his face in both of my hands and examined his face. He took my hands in his, lowering them from his face.
“I’m fine,” he reassured and my heart ached in my chest. “But don’t even try it again,” he warned, and I didn’t miss the dangerous shift in his eyes. “Understand?” His eyes had darkened and fear struck my core.
I nodded, tugging my wrists from him but he wouldn’t let go. “I won’t,” I irritably snapped back with reassurance.
The muscle in his jaw ticked until he finally let my wrists go.
